Overview
What Bird is
Bird (formerly MessageBird) is a communications platform that lets businesses send SMS and other messages to customers across a global network of carriers.
Courier sits in front of it as one API, so you keep Bird for SMS and add push, an in-app inbox, design, and journeys on top.
You need a Courier account and your own Bird account (an Access Key and an Originator number).
Why Courier
What you get with Bird + Courier
Add push in the same send
Reach mobile and web with push alongside SMS from one notification, no new integration in your code.
Add an in-app inbox for web and mobile
Give your app an in-product notification center (SDKs for web, React, iOS, Android, Flutter, React Native), so users see more than just texts.
Automate multi-step flows
Trigger reminders, verification, and lifecycle sequences with delays and branching, all delivered through Bird.
Write once, edit without code
Compose and localize SMS copy in Courier's editor. Product and support change messaging without a deploy.
Send to lists and audiences
Broadcast a one-off or recurring text to an entire list through Bird, alongside your transactional messages.
Localize a message in seconds
Pick a language and let Courier translate your message with AI, then tweak any string.
Use cases
What teams build with it
Setup
Connect it in minutes
An admin adds Bird once on the Integrations page in Courier. Once connected, anyone on your team can send SMS through Bird and add push or an in-app inbox whenever they need them.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Bird with Courier?
Yes. Bird (formerly MessageBird) works as an SMS delivery provider in Courier. Connect it once, then send texts through the Send API, Journeys, and Automations while Courier handles the content and cross-channel routing.
Do I still need my own Bird account?
Yes. Courier sends through your own Bird account, not a resold plan, so Bird bills you directly for the SMS it delivers. Courier orchestrates and designs the messages; the underlying SMS capacity stays with Bird.
What do I need to connect Bird to Courier?
A Bird account with an access key and an originating phone number. In Courier, open the Bird integration page, enter your access key and originator number, then click Save.
What phone number format does Courier need for Bird SMS?
Courier needs the recipient's SMS-compatible number in the profile field phone_number, in E.164 format like +12025550156. Bird uses that value as the destination, so without it Courier cannot route the SMS.
How do I set the sender for Bird SMS messages?
The originator number you save on the Bird integration page is the default sender. To change it per message, override body.originator (a number or alphanumeric sender like MyCompany) inside message.providers.messagebird-sms.override.
Can I override the Bird access key per message?
Yes. Override the accessKey via the config object under message.providers.messagebird-sms.override. This lets you send from a different Bird account for a given message without changing your saved integration.
Is Courier a replacement for Bird?
No. Courier sits in front of Bird, which still delivers the SMS. Courier adds one Send API, Design Studio, and Journeys, plus channels like push and Courier Inbox, so you orchestrate SMS alongside them.
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